Red Balloons Mark Site Of Crash That Killed 2 High School Seniors
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Red balloons mark the spot of a rush hour crash that ended the lives of two 18-year-olds in northwest Miami-Dade county.
Monday evening, a pick up truck was traveling on NW 74th Avenue and started crossing NW 173rd Drive when it slammed into a sedan carrying three people, according to officers.
The collision caused the sedan to slide onto a median and hit a fire hydrant and tree, ejecting one of the passengers -18-year-old Cristian Arocha who died in the crash.
Crews rushed the driver of the sedan, Jonathan Sanchez, 18, and another passenger, Sebastian Delgado, 19, to the hospital in critical condition.
Tuesday morning, Delgado died from his injuries.
Students at Mater Lakes Academy where Arocha and Sanchez attended are struck by the loss of such young lives with a promising future.
"They were seniors who were graduating and they had much ahead of them in their future for their life to continue and they didn't make it," said student Camila Salcedo."It was bad and I hope the person in the hospital is doing well."
The red balloons that mark the spot of the crash are a makeshift memorial.
"I found out about it and the loss of one life and then I found out about the loss of a second life. It was completely awful," said student Kayla Mezen.
Mater Lakes Academy took to social media to talk about the crash.
"I'm very, very concerned for the families. I knew the kids back in our 6th grade drama class and all I can say is that they were amazing boys. This is a horrible loss to lose lives so young. They were special kids," said Mezen.
The driver of the pick up truck was not injured in the crash.
Witness Yesenia Diaz says she will not forget what she heard and saw in the crash.
"All of a sudden, I heard what sounded like a big bomb and I looked and saw grey smoke at the window," said Diaz. "Then I heard the car spinning around and I thought it was going to hit the kitchen, hen I heard screaming."
There were somber moments at the school as students went home after classes.
"It's kind of tragic that they were just teens. They were so young. They were not doing anything except driving," said student Alex Gonzalez.
The principal of the school had a special ceremony for the students killed in the crash. Grief counselors were also there.
At last check, Sanchez was still recovering at the hospital.
Miami-Dade Police say their investigation into the crash is still open. So far, no one has been cited in the crash.
If anyone has information, please call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
